This edition of DIY's Handmade Music focuses on the building of a dulcimer. Dulcimers are easy to build, and they have changed little through the generations. Just about anyone can tackle this project with basic tools. The dulcimer found its way to the Appalachian region thanks to musically inclined settlers. Instruments were hard to come by on the frontier so early luthiers improvised and built the familiar dulcimer with readily available materials. This is a great first project for any budding luthier or maker of stringed instruments. Professor Gary Mahoney from Berea College shows us the best methods for building all the components of a dulcimer. He crafts from walnut a top, a back, a fret board, two sides (bent with a hot pipe) and a peg head. After assembling all the pieces to create the dulcimer Gary uses a spray booth to apply finish, and after a quick set up job the dulcimer is ready to play. Gary closes the show with the sweet sounds of his custom built dulcimer.